Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1998 07:38:38 -0800
From: Clare Howell
Subject: IYF - Rally for Assaulted Drag Queen
MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Editor: Clare Howell, clare@gpac.org
Contact: Liz Seaton, Executive Director
Free State Justice Campaign
(301)891-1111
RALLY HELD FOR ASSAULTED DRAG QUEEN
===================================
[Baltimore, MD: 6 Nov 98] 300 PEOPLE ATTENDED
a rally and candlelight vigil tonight for
Leonard 'Lynn' Vines, nine days after he was
assaulted and shot in an eastern Baltimore
neighborhood.
Vines is recovering from six gunshot
wounds to his chest, shoulder, arms, and back
after having been accosted on the street by a
gathering of young men and women who taunted
him, shouting, "We don't allow no drag queen
faggots in this neighborhood." He tried
to flee but was tripped and shot repeatedly.
The confrontation took place just
after ten p.m. as Vines was walking near his
cousin's house. He said, "I heard someone say,
'Shoot the bitch,' and the next thing I knew I
was shot in the chest, and I went into shock."
Fortunately a man working at the fire station
around the corner heard the shots and summoned
an ambulance immediately.
The Baltimore Sun reports that a suspect,
Paul Bishop, 20, was charged in a warrant with
attempted first-degree murder. Police Detective
Jerry Weaver said the suspected motive was the
victim's lifestyle.
Commented Vines' mother, Gloria Guthrie,
"After I went to the hospital and saw him with
tubes in him just because he's gay, it hurt me.
Regardless of what he is, I don't want nobody
hurting my child just because they don't love
him. Somebody loves him."
###
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